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- Title
- A hover fly uses its vacuum-like mouth to remove pollen from an anther of a <em>
- Author
- Anna Jacobsen Michigan State University Plant Biology jacob115@msu.edu
- Keywords
- Phacelia, Hover fly, pollination, flower, California
- Description
- BSA Plant Images Online - Hydrophyllaceae, Phacelia sp.
- The arid habitat of the Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve, USA, appears dry and lifeless for much of the year, but following the rainy season it bursts with the brilliant colors of the spring wildflower bloom. Many insects can be seen flying about pollinating flowers as they collect nectar and pollen. In this photo, a hover fly can be seen collecting pollen from a Phacelia (Hydrophyllaceae) flower. The fly has a short thick vacuum-like mouth, which it uses to suck up pollen from the flower anther. Although hover flies eat much of the pollen they collect, they also provide a valuable service to flowers by transferring pollen from one flower to another.
- Additional data
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copyright: Jacobsen, BSA
license: http://images.botany.org/index.html#license
- Collection
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Pollination Ecology
- Botanical Name
- Hydrophyllaceae, <em>Phacelia</em> sp.
- Location Area
- Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve
- Location State
- California
- Location Country
- USA
- Categories
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